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John McCain has jumped to a 12-point lead over Barack Obama in Kentucky, his best showing in the state since June. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Kentucky finds the Republican leading 55% to 43%.

McCain led his opponent by eight percentage points just one week ago, after leading by 10 in the two previous polls.

A significant shift over the past week came among unaffiliated voters in Kentucky, who favored Obama last week by a 56% to 40% margin. The latest poll finds unaffiliated voters in the state now choose McCain, 58% to 37%. Last week, McCain led by just four points among men in Kentucky. He now leads 58% to 39% among men and 52% to 47% among women.

White voters favor McCain over Obama by a 59% to 40% margin, while black voters overwhelmingly back Obama, 90% to 10%.

McCain’s favorable ratings went up from 59% a week ago to 64%. He is viewed unfavorably by 35%, down from 38% last week. Obama’s ratings are 45% favorable, down from 52% last week, and unfavorably by 54%, up from 47%.

On the top issue of the economy, Kentucky voters trust McCain more than Obama by 11 points. Unaffiliated voters in the state trust the Republican even more, 55% to 37%. Voters also give McCain the edge on national security by 22 points.

Incumbent Republican Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, continues to hold a stable lead over Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford in the state’s U.S. Senate race. LINK

President Bush earns good or excellent ratings from 37% of Kentucky voters, while 45% rate his performance as poor.

Battleground state polls released Monday showed Obama leading in Colorado, Florida, Ohio and Virginia. With these latest results, Rasmussen Reports has moved Florida from “Toss-Up” to “Leans Democratic.”